May 1780"We will go over the minuet again." Miss Manderly instructed at Felicity and Elizabeth's courtship lesson. They had gone over the basics of their earlier years of lessons: tea or coffee time and dancing, as well as the art of turning down a suitor, a practice Felicity found rather humorous to Elizabeth chagrin.
"Oh, my dear Humphrey! I am sorry, but I am disinclined to acquiesce to your request." Felicity playfully pretended to turn down a suitor as she and Elizabeth walked home from lessons. "Your feet are much too large and tend to tread on mine during dancing."
"Oh Felicity, you are wicked," Elizabeth said with a twinkle in her eye, feigning shock, "I must get home to Mother, say 'hullo' to your family for me!" waving, Elizabeth turned to head home.
Felicity continued to walk over to the store where she was surprised to find her little sister Polly sitting atop a barrel eating a piece of rock candy.
"Lissie! Play!"
"Love, what are you doing?" Felicity asked, lifting the sticky child down, she placed Polly on the floor and pulled a handkerchief out of her pocketbook to wipe Polly's mouth.
"Mother went calling," Polly explained, happily licking away.
"Really?" bending down to be at eye-level, "and why did she not take you?"
"William was bad at school," was the nonchalant response, Can I have another sweet?" Straightening up Felicity turned toward the back room and called for her father, "What happened with William?" she questioned as she absently handed another sweet to her sister.
"Maj. Gen. Lincoln surrendered the town and his entire army at Charles Town. A boy in William's class relished this victory too much for William's liking and he decided to even the score." Father explained, "I understand he gave his schoolmate quite the trashing. Your mother has taken William to the schoolmaster and the boy's house to apologize."
Felicity turned white with horror and her hands flew to her mouth. If ever a time to faint, this would be the moment, "Father, Ben was under Maj. Gen. Lincoln. He was at Charles Town!" Lissie cried.
"My dear child," Father embraced his daughter and Polly hugged her sister's legs.